Former Cleveland Cavaliers radio broadcaster Joe Tait swore he would never write a book about himself.

The 74-year-old Hall of Famer retired last year, after missing most of the season with pneumonia and heart surgery. But after signing off for the last time, Tait took his piles of scrapbooks and called his best friend, Cleveland sports writer Terry Pluto.

Joe Tait and Terry Pluto’s new book, “It’s Been a Real Ball,” starts with Tait’s days in grade school in Illinois and travels through his 38-year career as the first and up-until-then only voice of the Cavs.